Well packer



Hmm? ,Q Feed F A REED WELL PAclfnsRn Filed May 5, 1951 March 3l, 1953 Patented Mar. 31, 1953 WELL PACKER Frank A. Reed, Butler, Pa., assignor to Larkin and Company, Inc.,` Butler, Pa.

Application May 3, 1951,y Serial No. 224,378

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a well packer of the type comprising intermediate', upper and lower body members of hollow formation, slips or jaws, a slip or jaw expanding member 'on the lower body member, and an expansion sleeve or packer of rubber on the intermediate body member in contact at'its ends with the upper and lower body members, the upper and lower body members being formed to connect the packer in a string of tubing.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a liquid and gas-tight connection between the expansion sleeve and the upper and lower body members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ring having a Z shape which will insure a more effective connection between the rubber sleeve and the upper and lower body members of the packer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a well seal which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same, the single figure illustrates the packer element having a pair of Z-rings thereon attached to the body, the well packer and body being shown in section, with adjacent packer members.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral I designates a portion of the upper body member, while the numeral II designates a portion of the lower body member arranged therebelow. Interposed between the pair of members I0 and II is a cylindrical expansion sleeve or packer I which may be fabricated 0f rubber. In the upper body member IIJ is an exteriorly threaded portion I2 of reduced diameter, while the lower body member I l may be provided with a, similar exteriorly threaded portion I4 also having a reduced diameter.

The present invention is directed to a means for attaching the expansion sleeve I5 to the vadjacent ends of the upper and lower body members III and II, so that a perfect seal will be effected between these members. The connecting means comprises a Z-shaped ring I1 which is arranged on each end of the sleeve I5. Each of the rings I1 comprises a web I8 which is arranged contiguous to the end of the expansion sleeve I5. Each of the rings I1 further includes an annular lip I9 which projects into the interior of the sleeve I5. The lips I9 snugly seat in an annular recess or groove 22 which is arranged at each end of the 2 1 expansion sleeve I5. The grooves 22 are of such a size, and the lips I9 are sovshaped that the inner diameter of the lips I9 is the same as the inner diameter or bore of the sleeve I5. The ends of the sleeve I5 are secured to the rings I1 in-v 4any suitable manner, as for example, by vulcanization. flange 20 which projects from the web I8 or is The rings I'I further comprise an annular secured thereto or is formed integrally therewith. The flanges 20 have the same diameter as the external diameterof the sleeve I5. The flanges 20 may be threaded interiorly, as at 2l, so that the threaded flanges 20 can be readily attached to the threaded portions of the body members It) and II.

The expansion sleeve I5 is mounted on an intermediate body member 23, and the member 23 has an upper exterior portion 24 that is arranged in threaded engagement with the lower interior portion of the body member I0, The body member 23 projects through the interior of the sleeve I5 and into the lower body member II. Thus, the body member 23 will maintain the sleeve I5 in alignment and will prevent buckling of the sleeve I5.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that a well seal has been provided which will enable a perfect seal to be eifected between the sleeve I5 and the adjacent ends of the packer members. The pair of Z-rings Il are secured to the ends of the sleeve I5 in any suitable manner, as for example, by vulcanization, and the pair of body members I0 and II are connected to the Z-rings I1 in any suitable manner, as for example, by threaded connections shown in the drawings. The sleeve I5 is made of rubber of such a size and thickness so as to withstand the load imposed thereon.

The well packer can be used in connection with drilling or pumping of oil, gas or water from wells, and when the well packer is being used, intermixture between, or contamination of, uids or liquids will be prevented. Thus, liquids can be obtained from certain strata in a well and such liquids will not mix with the other liquids which are arranged above or below the desired strata. In other words, the well packer will enable `different producing and/or absorbing formations in the well to be blocked off or cut off from one another so that the desirable producing formations can be tapped without interference or contamination. By means of the Z-rings, uid will not work under or leak out of the sleeve I5. A1- though the drawings show the Z-rings connected to the body members I0 and II by threads, it is to be understood that these rings can be con-- nected to the body members I and Il in any suitable manner, as for example, by welding or by brazing, or by a combination of any of these methods. Further, internal pressure will not damage the well packer and there will be no interference with flexing or expansion of the sleeve I5.

The sleeve I may be fabricated with the molded Z-ring at each end of the body, and can be applied either by screwing to packer top or to the lower body part and/or Welded or brazed. The present invention is directed to a component part of the packer and will provide a non-leaking seal, the device of the present invention adapted to be used with various types of packers.

What is claimed is:

In a well packer, an upper and a lower body member arranged in end-to-end relation with respect to each other and spaced apart from each other, a resilient expansion sleeve interposed between the adjacent ends of said body members, an intermediate body member extending through said sleeve whereby relative movement between said sleeve and body member can take place, and a Z-shaped ring mounted on each end of said sleeve for connecting said sleeve to said upper and lower body members, each of said rings comprising a web abutting the end of said sleeve, there being an inner annular groove in each end of said sleeve, an annular lip projecting from said weband seated in said groove, said lip being of the same diameter as the interior of said sleeve, said sleeve being secured to said lip and web, and an annular flange projecting from said web and adapted to be connected to said upper and lower body members, said flange being of the same diameter as the outer diameter of said sleeve, the lower end of said intermediate body member slidably engaging said sleeve, Z- ring, and lower body member.

FRANK A. REED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le Yof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 535,334 Headley Mar. 5, 1895 781,470 Spang Jan. 31, 1905 823,760 Callanan June 19, 1906 1,038,080 Booe et al Sept. l0, 1912 

